Milestones in Magee-Womens Research Institute History

1990    Irma Goertzen, CEO of Magee-Womens Hospital, launches research initiatives that would give rise to Magee-Womens Research Institute.

1992    James M. Roberts, MD, is recruited as Director of the newly established Magee-Womens Research Institute. The fledging enterprise is composed of four basic scientists and twenty clinical investigators, garnering $1 million in NIH funding. Research operations are housed within the Scaife Wing of Magee-Womens Hospital.

1994    MWRI moves to the newly remodeled research building at 204 Craft Avenue. Inspiration for the design is drawn from an article in Science describing a facility in the U.K. as stimulating research interactions because of its open design.

1995     MWRI membership grows over the years to include 25 basic researchers and 15 clinical, behavioral, and epidemiological affiliate researchers, and NIH funding increases to more than $18 million. Research trajectories expand with the recruitment of Sharon Hillier, PhD, a worldwide leader in infectious disease research. The Magee-Womens Summer College and High School Internship Programs are established.

1996    The collaborative efforts of physicians and researchers result in Magee-Womens Hospital being designated as one of six National Centers of Excellence by the Department of Health and Human Services. The designation recognizes Magee leadership in five areas: clinical care, research, academic leadership, professional education, and community education and outreach.

2001    The MWRI Postdoctoral Fellowship is established. Planning begins for the expansion of the Research Institute facility.

2002    MWRI receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a multidisciplinary Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Training Program.

2007    Construction is completed on the B-wing expansion, increasing the Institute’s size from 50,000 sq ft to 125,000 sq ft. Yoel Sadovsky, MD, is appointed Scientific Director of the Institute. Dr. Sadovsky’s arrival heralds significant faculty recruitment, designed to bolster fundamental research at MWRI. The expansion also provides new homes to collaborating researchers from the University of Pittsburgh.

2008    New initiatives include renovations of the original A-wing of the research building as well as the development of core facilities for the Institute.

2009    MWRI receives funding from the NIH to establish a Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Career Development Program. MWRI also receives funding from the Magee-Womens Auxiliary to establish the Magee Auxiliary Research Scholarship (MARS) for new investigators.

2010    MWRI’s research building and Magee-Womens Hospital facilities are home to 68 faculty members who collaborate with another 39 affiliate researchers located throughout the University of Pittsburgh campus. Research collaborations are strengthened with the integration of The Center for Research in Reproductive Physiology into the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences. Optimization of research facilities increases with completion of renovations to the 2nd floor of the original A-wing, with plans in place for renovations to the 4th floor A-wing. NIH funding of core faculty research totals $28.4 million.